California-based International Stem Cell Corporation this
morning announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Cyto Therapeutics, has
signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with Royal Melbourne Hospital in Australia to
conduct phase I/IIa clinical trials of ISCO’s proprietary human parthenogenetic
neural stem cells (hPNSCs) for the treatment of Parkinson’s Disease.
The LOI follows a recent meeting with Australian
Therapeutics Goods Administration (TGA), and precedes a full agreement expected
to be signed after TGA and the HREC approve the clinical protocol for the
trials.
“We had a productive meeting with TGA where we discussed the
clinical protocol and potentially came to an agreement on all remaining items.
We look forward to receiving TGA approval for clinical trials in November and
enrolling patients soon thereafter,” Russell A. Kern, Ph.D., chief scientific
officer of ISCO, stated in the news release.
ISCO’s Parkinson’s disease program uses hPNSCs, a novel
therapeutic cellular product derived from the company’s proprietary human
pluripotent stem cells. hPNSC are self-renewing multipotent cells that are
precursors for the major cells of the central nervous system. The cells’
ability to differentiate into dopaminergic neurons and express neurotrophic
factors to protect the nigrostriatal system creates a potential new opportunity
for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease.
Additionally, hpSCs offer the potential to create the first
true stem cell bank, UniStemCell™. ISCO also produces and markets specialized
cells and growth media for therapeutic research worldwide through its
subsidiary Lifeline Cell Technology (www.lifelinecelltech.com), and stem
cell-based skin care products through its subsidiary Lifeline Skin Care
(www.lifelineskincare.com).
For more information visit www.internationalstemcell.com
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